Posted this on the newlywed board but need more responses...

If you got married at the reception site, and didn't see eachother before the ceremony, how did picture taking go after the ceremony? Meaning, did you have enough time to get everything done during the cocktail hour???

I'm so worried about this, and I just don't have a choice! We are taking all the "separate" pics before the wedding.

Message edited 2/4/2003 3:32:55 PM.

Re: Posted this on the newleywed board but need more responses...

Is your reception RIGHT after the ceremony? I am not getting married at my reception site, but spoke with my photographer. She told me she needs atleast an hour in between ceremony and cocktail hour. Hope that helps a little.

Re: Posted this on the newleywed board but need more responses...

Hi : ) We are doing the same as you and our photographer said that was enough time. But we aren't having a bridal party (just a MOH and BM) so I don't know if you have a large party or not if that will effect your timing. Ask your photographer. They should know approximately how much time is needed. Good luck!!!

Re: Posted this on the newleywed board but need more responses...

We are planning on having Dale come to my house before hand to take pictures. We won't see each other but at least we can eliminate some shots that we might have done at the recpetion. Like him with the girls and me with the guys. I saw it on A wedding Story and that gave me that idea.

Re: Posted this on the newleywed board but need more responses...

Mistyeyed - If you don't have a choice, I'm not sure this is a question you should be asking!

I went to a wedding in August where this was done (my husband was a GM). They used Glenmar, who may not have been the best at working efficiently. Either way, it was an unpleasant for all involved. The photos were very rushed, and the photographer was yelling at people. If you truly have no choice, then I suggest the following: Make a list of all the photos, and schedule them. Make sure every person you want in the photos knows when and where they should be. Assign a pushy friend/relative to make sure that everyone is ready and waiting for their photos. (Aunt Lisa may be trying to get shrimp cocktail while all the other family is waiting, and you don't want to be the one chasing after her!)

Re: Posted this on the newleywed board but need more responses...

I posted on the "xx" thread on the NW side.

Re: Posted this on the newleywed board but need more responses...

You're right, maybe I shouldn't have. But what I really wanted out of this post was ideas on how best to handle it....coming from people who have experienced it.

I don't have a choice but to do the pics after the ceremony. My cocktail hour is right after my ceremony, because it is in the hall.

I was told that an hour is enough by my photographer, and I guess one that really knows what he's doing will handle it well.

I have a large bridal party, but FH has a small family, only 4 of them. My family is where all the beef is in terms of size, so I hope to get them done first. Then FH family..and then let the parents/grandparents go.

As for the bridal party, there are only really a few shots that we will be taking with them together right? One of the entire bridal party and us, one of us with the Best Man/MOH, and one of us with the flower girl/ring bearer/jr. bridesmaid.

Other than that...there aren't really a ton of pics that are taken in huge groups. How long could this really take? We don't have very young children either...

Re: Posted this on the newleywed board but need more responses...

To help make the picture taking go smoothy, let everyone involved know that they will be expected to take the pictures and when.

Have someone that knows everyone from each side of the family so they can help keep everyone together.

Re: Posted this on the newleywed board but need more responses...

This is driving me crazy, also. FH will not see me before the ceremony (great time to choose to be traditional!!) no matter how much I try to talk him out of it and I'm soo worried about being all rushed and stressed w/ getting photos done. I'm telling family that they need to be a certain place immediately after the ceremony and if theyr'e not there, they won't be in pics b/c I'm NOT wasting my day chasing people around. I'm totally putting my foot down on that one. I just hope it all works out!!

Re: Posted this on the newleywed board but need more responses...

Star...thank God there is someone else going through this.

I planned on doing the same thing..if you aren't on time, if you aren't there, you won't be in them. The way I look at it, if you don't care enough to be there, why should I care enough to have you in them?! Total bridezilla I know, but in this case..too bad! LOL.

Re: Posted this on the newlywed board but need more responses...

Misty
I posted on newlyweds

I gave this absolutely no thought to taking pictures before the ceremony. I am not terribly traditional and would prefer to get the pictures done before the ceremony and enjoy the cocktail hour

I am sure we will take a few after the ceremony, but it shouldn't take long

Re: Posted this on the newlywed board but need more responses...

Mistyeyed I am usually a traditionalist and I am very superstitious. As of know I am doing pics beforehand. I really did not want to be rushed with pics, and since I am getting married at the hall I really do not have alot of time.

I have a small bridal party and I could actually get away with taking pics during the cocktail hour, but I would rather spend that time in my bridal suite relaxing.

My advice to you is to try and take as many pictures apart as possible ahead of time. I was contemplating doing that and then take your together pictures during the cocktail hour and those with family members as well.

Let us know what you decide.

Re: Posted this on the newlywed board but need more responses...

Well, that is basically what we decided to do. We are doing everything we possibly can do apart...before the ceremony, at my parents house and at the hall.

Everything else will be done during the cocktail hour. We will miss the entire cocktail, and hopefully, our families and bp will get to be at the second half of it. If we have to duck out during dinner to finish our couple pics so be it.

The main reason I asked was for experiences with doing this...and advice on how to handle getting people together and keeping them there.

Thanks everyone.

Message edited 2/4/2003 4:10:52 PM.

Re: Posted this on the newlywed board but need more responses...

It sounds like you have already come up with the best solution - doing the separate pictures before the ceremony Then you are down to entire bridal party, bride and groom (alone and with family) and maybe some groom with girls, vice versa. I think an hour should be plenty of time. Back when I was looking, some photographers told me they could get the formals done in 15 mins I don't know if that is really possible, but I have been in a few weddings where we took pics during the cocktail hour and it took less than an hour to get all of the pics done.

If you are really concerned, you should call your photographer and let him or her reassure you.

And if you have concerns about the BP being on time, tell them you want them there 45 mins before you really do. Then if someone if half an hour late, they are still early

Re: Posted this on the newlywed board but need more responses...

Well, I am a very untraditional bride myself. I don't believe in that mumbo jumbo about not seeing the bride before the ceremony.

We are going to the hall early with the whole bridal party (30 people) and the parents to take pictures before hand.

I think if you are paying for a cocktail hour, you should be there to enjoy it and socialize with your guests.

Plus once the drinks start, it will be hard to get that many people together to take pics.

Re: Posted this on the newlywed board but need more responses...

Mistyeyed - It sounds to me like you have this very well under control, and that it will work out well for you. I have one more suggestion to make -- in terms of family pictures, you can get many done beforehand. Are you planning to have portraits of your immediate family done before? Also, portraits of you with grandparents (if you are so fortunate) could also be done ahead of the ceremony. Only the big family group photo needs to have both the bride and groom... you can get some of the smaller photos out of the way before you are together...

Re: Posted this on the newlywed board but need more responses...

Well, the only family photos aside from the group photos would be both of us with our respective parents I believe. We only have one grandparent between the two of us...so that's really not an issue.

I guess I am getting nervous for nothing!